Standard 6

Standard 6. The unit has the leadership, authority, budget, personnel, facilities, and resources, including information technology resources, for the preparation of candidates to meet professional, state, and institutional standards.

6.1 How do the unit’s governance system and resources contribute to adequately preparing candidates to meet professional, state, and institutional standards?

Unit Leadership and Authority

Aregional and international Catholic university, Newman is sponsored by the Adorers of the Blood of Christ, USA Province, St. Louis, Missouri. St. Maria De Mattias founded the congregation in Italy in 1834 and sisters from the order came to Wichita in 1902. The Sisters are the corporate owners of the institution. They retain selected reserved powers, including authorization of any proposed changes in the institution’s mission, approval of debt ceiling of $1 million or more, and reversion rights to real property. The Four Pillars of Newman University Identity are: Catholic Commitment, Academic Excellence, Global Perspective, and Culture of Service. These pillars are the underpinnings that guide the mission and vision of the university.

Newman is separately incorporated and is governed by an independent Board of Trustees under the bylaws of the institution. The composition of the twenty-two member board is presented on page 164 of the Newman University Academic Catalog as well as on the university web page (http://www.newmanu.edu/welcome/boardoftrustees.html). The President is the Chief Executive Officer of the University. Guided by Board policies and the institutional mission, the President directs educational activities, business operations, public relations, and other facets of University affairs. The President appoints the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs (Provost/VPAA) to serve as the Chief Academic Officer on his or her Executive Staff and to direct personnel, programs, policies, and procedures related to Academic Affairs and Student Support Services. The President’s cabinet includes the President, chair, and members including the Provost/VP Academic Affairs, VP Finance and Administration, VP Human Resources, VP University Advancement, and Director of Athletics.

During the 2009-10 school year, the Vice President for Academic Affairs recommended to the Newman University academic community a reorganization of the academic structure. In order to demonstrate the strength of the graduate programs at the university, academic schools and departments were divided among two colleges: (1) College of Undergraduate Studies; and, (2) College of Graduate and Professional Studies. In addition, three schools were approved: School of Education, School of Nursing & Allied Health, and School of Social Work. The College of Undergraduate Studies contained five divisions: Arts and Letters, Business, Humanities, Science and Mathematics, and Social Sciences. The College of Graduate and Professional Studies includes: Graduate Theology Program, Graduate Education Program, Nurse Anesthesia Graduate Program, and Graduate Social Work Program. This organizational pattern continues to remain in place. Faculty members at Newman University are distributed according to their academic disciplines and teaching assignments among the schools, divisions, and programs.

Colleges of Undergraduate and Graduate Studies are directed by Deans; Schools are supervised by Directors; Divisions are led by Chairs; all other areas are administered by either a Director or Coordinator. College Deans and School Directors are on either an 11-month or 12-month contract. Chairs, program directors, and program coordinators are either on an extended 10 month contract, are given ¼ release time, or are paid a stipend to conduct the leadership responsibilities of their respective programs.

The Provost formed three councils that function as advisory organizations for the Provost: (1) College Deans Council – comprised of the Provost and the two College Deans; (2) Deans Council – Provost, two College Deans, two Associate Deans (Directors of School of Nursing and School of Education), Associate Vice President for Academic Services and Student Development, Dean of Students, and ex oficio member – administrative assistant for Provost; (3) Directors Council – comprised of Directors of various programs, i.e., Director of WKC, Director of Information Technology, Director of Student Transfer Orientation and Retention, Director of Online Support, etc.

Deans and associate deans hold limited faculty status and are not eligible for participation in Faculty Senate meetings and governance. The Dean of the School of Education maintains a half-time teaching load (12 undergraduate or 9 graduate hours per year) in addition to the requisite administrative responsibilities. Selection, appointment, and evaluation of Deans is the responsibility of the Provost/VPAA in consultation with the College Deans. Each Dean’s and Associate Dean’s workload is determined by the Provost/VPAA. Beyond their academic responsibilities, Deans and Associate Deans are expected to model the Catholic mission and culture of the University, to lead in school related recruitment and retention pursuits, to be active in marketing their programs, and to be visible in supporting institutional advancement projects and general fundraising activities. Duties of School Directors are found in the Faculty Handbook and in the job description of the Director of the School of Education. The academic organization of the university also includes the Office of Student Affairs, Office of Student Academic Support Services, Office of the Registrar, and the Library. Organization charts for the university, and Academic and Student Affairs.

The School of Education (SOE) is the unit of the university that is responsible for the planning, implementation, monitoring, and assessment of all professional education programs. These include early childhood education, elementary education, secondary education, and graduate education. The SOE is housed in McNeill Hall. Built in 1961 as a dormitory, McNeill Hall is named for Reverend Leon McNeill, the first president of the institution. Most of the building serves as offices for faculty members including business, social sciences, English, social work, mathematics, and communications. Some coaches of the university’s athletic teams also maintain offices. Each office is equipped with a personal computer networked to the university system and a telephone linked with the university’s voicemail system. Faculty members do not share offices and have sufficient space to meet privately with students and colleagues. SOE faculty have offices in the west wing of the first floor of the building. Education adjunct faculty have access to an office on the second floor. Three basement classrooms are used almost exclusively by the unit. The Evie Hufford Education Resource Laboratory, named after a former beloved education faculty member, houses computers, printers, photocopiers, laminator, Smartboard, a library of curriculum books, colored paper, dye cuts, stamps, and various other resources needed by teachers to design interactive and student –centered learning activities. The lab is also used by non-education majors on campus who pay for the resources they use.

The three basement classrooms in McNeill, 15, 30, and 40, are used regularly for professional education courses. Room 15 is smaller and has a mobile smart unit with an Elmo, computer, and projector. The two larger classrooms, 30 and 40, are “smart” classrooms with a Smart Board, document projector, permanently mounted VGA projector and a computer connected to the projector. The computer has network and internet connections and a DVD/VHS player. Rooms are configured to accommodate wireless connection for candidates and faculty. Computers have sound capability and an infrared mouse and keyboard for instructor convenience. The university has 24 classrooms, 11 of which are smart classrooms; two ITV rooms, six specially designated classrooms; and nine laboratory classrooms. Over the next few years, the university plans to convert more of the standard classrooms into Smart classrooms. Other campus classrooms are located in Sacred Heart Hall, Eck Hall, De Mattias Hall, and the Heimerman Science Center. All classrooms used by the education programs provide access to basic teaching equipment, like overhead projectors and TV-VCRs. The library loans laptop computers and LCD projectors to instructors as well.

The Western Kansas Education Center is located on the first floor of Hennessey Hall on the old St. Mary of Plains campus in Dodge City. A branch of the Western Kansas Center is located in the Garden City School District Offices and Academic Support Services Building in Garden City. The Western Kansas Center in Dodge City includes four offices for the Director/Assistant Professor of Education, ESOL Coordinator and Newman Recruiter, Coordinator of ECU and Assistant Professor, and an Administrative Assistant. Each office is equipped with a personal computer networked to the university system and a telephone with voice mail. The Center also includes two ITV rooms, a Learning Resource Room/Bookstore, English as a Second Language classroom, a large meeting/conference room, a computer lab, a work room, and three file/storage rooms. The Garden City School District accommodates the program by providing access to the ITV room in the District Office. These ITV classrooms provide opportunities for face-to-face instruction for candidates who can meet in the ITV classrooms or who can connect via ITV at other outreach sites. Off-campus classes for the Southeast Kansas program are located at Independence Community College (ICC) in Independence, Kansas and Labette Community College (LCC) in Parsons, Kansas. The classrooms provided are comfortable and well-equipped, including internet access and a large screen video projector. There are also ITV classrooms at both Southeast Kansas sites provided by the respective community colleges.

Adjuncts are considered part time and are hired to teach specific courses. The unit complies with the university guideline for hiring adjuncts including the requisite academic credentials and the number of courses they may teach. The unit faculty members, both full and ½ time are assigned course loads described in the Faculty Handbook. Several faculty members have adjusted loads based on their unit and administrative assignments.

Advisory councils are used to help guide the unit in its self-evaluation and future planning. There are four functioning advisory councils, three undergraduate and one graduate. The councils are located in Western Kansas, in Southeast Kansas, and the main campus in Wichita. Councils meet twice each academic year and are comprised of graduates of the program, candidates, adjuncts, and other professionals who have experience and insights to bring to the unit.

Newman University has increased the number of facilities during the last 15 years as a result of successful fund-raising and capital campaigns. Eck Hall was completed and opened in 1999. Eck Hall is home for the nursing and allied health faculty and contains faculty offices, several multi-use classrooms, anatomy, occupational therapy, and nursing simulation labs, two computer classrooms, and a student lounge area. O'Shaughnessy Hall, the university’s indoor athletic complex, and De Mattias Fine Arts Center were opened in 2000. These ‘performance’ facilities are home for art, music, theatre, a computer lab, rehearsal halls, performance hall, multiple classrooms, art gallery, offices spaces, and two Interactive Television classrooms (ITV) that are used by the advanced education programs for the majority of the graduate courses offered each semester.

The Dugan Library and Campus Center opened in September 2007. This building is a state-of-the-art facility which emphasizes on-line technology in addition to traditional books and journals. Library staff and student workers accommodate student requests for locating information and interlibrary loans. The building also houses the university bookstore and Scooters Cafe. There is a computer lab along and a student center. Services provided by the Student Government Association and campus life programming are now housed in this facility with offices for the Dean of Students and other staff members. Students have opportunities to relax and socialize as well as to study and research. In addition, the Campus Center has a large conference center that also can be partitioned into two, or three separate rooms to accommodate multiple meetings or break-out sessions. The rooms have internet access, projectors, and screens and are ideal for presentations to both large and small groups. The Dugan Conference Center is used extensively by the university community as well as off-campus organizations who take advantage of the convenient access and excellent facilities. This use has increased the opportunities students have to attend lectures and conferences sponsored by the university as well as outside organizations.

6.2.b Continuous Improvement

Summarize activities and changes based on data that have led to continuous improvement of candidate performance and program quality.

Discuss plans for sustaining and enhancing performance through continuous improvement as articulated in unit Standard 6.

Continuous Improvement

As part of the student internship experience, education majors write a capstone paper. The purpose is for students to reflect on and evaluate their entire academic experience at Newman University, particularly their education courses, the faculty, and staff. Over the past few years, many students indicated their frustration with the condition of the classrooms in the basement of McNeill Hall. They denigrated the drab colors and chaffed at the ‘message’ from the university that education majors didn’t deserve attractive, technologically smart classrooms. As part of a continuous improvement project, two faculty members committed to renovating the basement classrooms and hallways in the basement of McNeill Hall. A faculty member received a $3,000 grant from the Adorers of the Blood of Christ along with other donations. A second faculty member requested donations from a local lumber and supply company, Star Lumber. Throughout the summer of 2008, these two education faculty members cleaned out a very dirty and cluttered room previously used by the university student newspaper staff. The two faculty members plus a work-study student, cleaned, laid tile, and painted the room. A contractor constructed a wall with a one-way window that divided the room into two spaces: a classroom and a video-audio recording room. In order to pay for the equipment needed to make the room a Smart Classroom, funds from the unit’s instructional fees budget were used to purchase two projectors, podium with control panel, Elmo, computer, DVD, electric screen, and Smart Board. In addition, four other cameras and recording system were installed and linked to a computer to record instructional and learning activities in the room. Newman University VP for Finance, provided funds for the ceiling tiles, student tables and chairs, and painters to paint the hallway. McNeill 40 was dedicated on October 26, 2008, in memory of Sister Susan Reeves, ASC, who was a former faculty member of the School of Education. In addition to renovating McNeill 40, additional technology was purchased to convert McNeill 15 into a smart classroom with an Elmo, projector, and computer. An additional Smartboard was purchased and placed in the Evie Hufford Resource room as a technology tool for all education candidates to practice and learn how to incorporate that technology in their lesson design. A large hallway was designated as the student lounge. The area was painted with comfort in mind for candidates. The space was improved by creating a lounge area with donations of furniture, rug, and art.

In addition to the improvement in the technology and environmental climate of the classrooms in McNeill, education faculty have responded to the trend in education to incorporate more technology and to modify course delivery to meet the changing needs of traditional and adult learners. Undergraduate faculty in the initial programs have engaged in developing more hybrid delivery of courses. Graduate faculty in the advanced programs, in addition to providing hybrid delivery of courses, have also participated in creating more online offerings. Several graduate courses are now offered online including EDUC 6063 Advanced Instructional Methods, EDUC 6023 and EDUC 6033 Research I and II; EDUC 6043 Educational Philosophies, EDUC 6053 Advanced Curriculum Methods, and EDUC 7063 Leadership Theories and Techniques. The graduate faculty are using a variety of video-conferencing tools in many of the online courses.

Because the advanced programs utilize ITV technology, the program is able to reach students in outlying areas in the state of Kansas and surrounding states. The Director of Information Technology approved the use of a webcam program, AT&T Connect, like Skype, that allows students to log onto the course through their home computers and to participate in course discussions and presentations. The number of candidates using this service has increased significantly and the unit is currently exploring web programs to improve the capability of connecting simultaneously with multiple students while allowing personal interaction with other candidates and instructor.

As a result of preparing for KSDE program approval and NCATE accreditation, the unit has also addressed the cumbersome task of collecting assessment data. Newman University has a Director of Assessment who collects assessment reports from all university academic programs. It became apparent throughout this process that the collection of data was a troublesome area for the unit. Small changes in the way data is collected and managed began in 2010-11 and the effort continues today. Because of the large number of adjuncts who teach courses that contain critical assessments, it is imperative that the unit designs and implements a system of collection that meets the needs of the unit and is user-friendly. Currently, a data-base collection and management system is being developed and will be operational during spring semester 2013.

Another technological change that occurred was in the classroom management system used by the advanced program. Candidates in the advanced program used Blackboard, the university course management system (CMS), but the lapse in time between registration and inclusion in courses became problematic. Due to communication concerns and timely access to course material and resources needs of candidates and instructors, the unit explored options outside Blackboard. Moodle, an open-source, Course Management System (CMS), also known as a Learning Management System (LMS) or a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) was a viable option. Moodle is a free web application that the unit was able to use to create effective advanced program online and hybrid learning sites. Moodle was piloted during 2011-12. It proved to be a very effective alternative to Blackboard and was approved by the institution in fall 2012. The use of Moodle significantly improved the efficiency and capability of the unit to communicate and coordinate with adjuncts who teach graduate courses and to manage course learning activities for candidates in the various advanced programs. The new assessment data gathering and management system is now being developed using Moodle as the format.

Another significant change was the way candidates in the advanced programs registered for the university. The unit administrative assistant created an electronic form that allowed candidates to register and immediately send the form to the administrative assistant for processing. This facilitated a much quicker response time from the unit and allowed candidates to receive more timely and efficient advisement. Another change in the program is that course evaluations will now be sent digitally to all candidates in each of the advanced program courses and the responses will now be stored in a data base that will allow for disaggregation of the data which will be used by the Advisory Councils for program review. Candidates interested in the advanced programs are now self-assessing around the unit’s conceptual framework when they apply to the program. In addition, candidate references will also evaluate candidates using the conceptual framework as the reference point for their evaluation.

Courses underwent significant modifications in both the initial and advanced programs as a result of preparing all unit programs for program review through the Kansas State Department of Education review process. These modifications have become part of each program’s curriculum and assessment format.

6.3 Exhibits

Policies, procedures, and practices for governance and operations of the unit (16)

Our Mission

Newman University is a Catholic university named for John Henry Cardinal Newman and founded by the Adorers of the Blood of Christ for the purpose of empowering graduates to transform society.Mission, identity and heritage